Ranking current, former Spurs by Olympics watchability

August 5, 2016 3:57 PM

12. Robertas Javtokas (Lithuania; Drafted by Spurs in 2001)

Olympic stats: 15 games, 8.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, 0.5 blocks

Drafted by the Spurs with the 56th overall pick in 2001, Javotkas was stashed abroad but never called over. He’s 36 now, a seven-time Lithuanian League champion and a former Eurocup Finals MVP. The athleticism once enticed the Spurs is now largely gone, and he’s given way to a younger generation led by Jonas Valanciunas and Domantas Sabonis. But who knows, Javotkas might have one poster left in him.

Name unfamiliar? It should be. Garcia’s NBA career lasted just 10 games over parts of two seasons. He played two games with the Spurs in January 2004. Now 36, Garcia’s career is winding down. He’s been a part of Brazil’s international team for over 15 years, capturing several gold medals in various competitions.

Garino hasn’t suited up for the Spurs yet, having only recently agreed to a partially guaranteed contract. Undrafted out of George Washington, the 23-year-old capped his collegiate career by leading the Colonials to an NIT championship. It’s uncertain how much of a role Garino will play in Rio, but at the least, this should provide a valuable learning experience and a front row seat for Ginobili and Scola’s last ride.

Baynes isn’t going to induce many “wow” moments, but he’s a key piece for an Australian team on a quixotic medal mission. A reserve on the Spurs’ 2014 title team, Baynes parlayed his stint with the Spurs into a three-year, $20 million deal with the Pistons. He’ll do yeoman’s work on the glass and do his best to protect the rim, though he’s not much of a shot blocker. For Australia to advance past the quarterfinals for the first time since 2000, Baynes will have to play steady and find a way to stalemate Group A’s other bigs.

Nigeria went from potential dark horse to they’ll be lucky to win a game when news hit that Portland Trail Blazers center Festus Ezeli and forward Al-Farouq Aminu would be unable to play. Their absence puts enormous strain on Diogu, whose last NBA stint came in a two-game cameo with the Spurs in 2012. Since then the former lottery pick out of Arizona State has bounced between China, Puerto Rico and the D-League. But he’s undoubtedly this team’s most important piece, the only one with actual NBA experience. If this team manages to win even a single game, it will likely be due to Diogu’s efforts.

De Colo’s stint with the Spurs was brief and largely forgettable, but he’s blossomed since returning to Europe. He just completed an epic season with CSKA Moscow, leading the Russian team to a EuroLeague championship while earning MVP honors. De Colo averaged 19 points, five assists and 3.6 rebounds, establishing himself as one of the most dynamic talents in Europe. Spurs fans familiar with the French guard’s work stateside might be surprised to see how electric the 29-year-old has become.

Mills would be higher if not for the fact that the 27-year-old likely has at least one more Olympic run left in him after Rio. Olympic Mills is an absolutely unrepentant, unrestrained gunner. He averaged a tournament-high 21.2 points on 19.3 shots in London. He scored 39 against Great Britain and 26 against the United States. Gunner. Mills is surrounded by the best Olympic team Australia has ever fielded. His light is greener than Cersei’s cache of wildfire. He’s hell-bent on leaving Brazil with a medal. Buckle up, bala.

Watching Diaw hoop is going to elicit smiles, no matter the stage. Parker may be the more important player, but the buxom Frenchman is the team’s sentimental favorite. Though he hasn’t made it official yet, this could be 34-year-old Diaw’s last Olympics. He’ll have his share of fun – no word on if he installed an espresso machine in the locker room yet – but a serious Diaw can tilt the competitive balance of most any game. Depending on which version shows up, the French could be poised to medal for the first time since 2000.

OK, Scola never played for the Spurs, but he was drafted by the team in 2002, gestating overseas until being traded to the Rockets in 2007. But Scola always felt like he played with a Spurs tank hiding beneath his official jersey, so he gets counted here. Scola has always been a reliable, effective NBA player, but the Argentine flags seems to amplify his abilities. Scola owns averages of 18.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.7 assists across three Olympics. He exploded for 25 points and 11 rebounds in Argentina’s gold medal win over Italy. He went supernova on Russia in 2008 with 37 points. He opened the 2012 London Games by dropping 32 points on Lithuania. In his final Olympic appearance, we should all appreciate Scola’s supernatural national team powers.

Parker’s international career has been rocky. He led France to gold in the 2013 EuroBasket championship, the country’s first title. Les Bleus captured silver in 2011 and bronze in 2005 and 2015. But France also failed to qualify for the Olympics in 2004 and 2008 and finished sixth in 2012. If not for Parker’s 26-point performance in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Manila this July, his international career might already be over. But his performance – along with Nando de Colo’s (more on him in a bit) – granted France another shot at the Olympics. Parker has four NBA titles, a Finals MVP trophy, six All-Star appearances and four All-NBA selections; all that’s really missing is an Olympic medal.

Sans brother Marc – still recovering from a broken foot – Spain will lean on the elder Gasol once again. Spain has consistently loomed as the biggest threat to Team USA since its rebirth under coach Mike Krzyzewski. The teams have clashed in each of the last two gold medal games, with Spain putting some fear into the Americans each time. The Spaniards lost by just seven points in 2012 in part due to a virtuoso 24-point, eight-rebound, seven-assist performance by Gasol. Flanked by Ricky Rubio, Rudy Fernandez, Nikola Mirotic and others, Gasol and Spain once again stand as Team USA’s biggest hurdle.

Ginobili is undoubtedly one of the greatest international basketball players ever. At the height of his powers, glistening scalp concealed by lush, flowing Samson-like locks, Ginobili led Argentina to gold at the 2004 Athens Games. He averaged 19.3 points, four rebounds and 3.3 assists. He shredded Team USA in the semi-finals, going off for 29 points against Tim Duncan and company. He dropped a 16-6-6 line in the gold medal game against Italy. It was two weeks of pure Manu magic. Argentina then won bronze in 2008 and finished fourth in 2012 with Ginobili scoring 21 in the bronze medal game. Since Ginobili made his national team debut in 1998, Argentina has won two FIBA Americas championships, the 2008 FIBA Diamond Ball and finished as runner-up at the 1999 FIBA South American Championship, 2002 FIBA World Cup and 2003 FIBA Americas Championship. Now 39, Ginobili and the last remnants of Argentina’s “Golden Generation” are preparing to create one last golden memory.

Drafted by the Spurs with the 56th overall pick in 2001, Javotkas was stashed abroad but never called over. He’s 36 now, a seven-time Lithuanian League champion and a former Eurocup Finals MVP. The athleticism once enticed the Spurs is now largely gone, and he’s given way to a younger generation led by Jonas Valanciunas and Domantas Sabonis. But who knows, Javotkas might have one poster left in him.